§ THE LORD CHANCELLOR (VISCOUNT HALDANE)My Lords, I beg to introduce a Bill to amend the law of property and of settlements, to abolish copyhold and other special tenures, to simplify the title to and transfer of land, and to amend the Settled Land Acts, 1882 to 1899, the Trustee Act, 1893, and the Land Transfer Acts. 1875 to 1897, and I move that the Bill be read a first time. I make this Motion for the purpose of having the Bill printed. Your Lordships may remember that last year I introduced two Bills, one to amend the law of real property and the other to amend the law of conveyancing. Those two Bills have been much sifted during the last 12 months. The Incorporated Law Society has given both Bills much thought, and in the light of the experience which has since been gained the two Bills have now been thrown into one. In the present Bill we have been able to meet various points. The noble Viscount on the Front Opposition Bench will be glad to hear that the Statute of Uses is much cut down.
§ VISCOUNT ST. ALDWYNHear, hear.
§ THE LORD CHANCELLORThe Bill in its present form is a considerable advance on what we had previously worked out to the best of our ability. What I wish to do is to get the Bill printed so that it may be further considered, in its present form. The subject is too vast to proceed rapidly in the matter of legislation regarding it, but I hope that it may be possible to deal with the matter effectively next session.
§ Moved, That the Bill be now read 1ª(The Lord Chancellor.)
§ On Question, Bill read 1ª, and to be printed. (No. 221.)
§ Ordered, That there be laid before the House a Memorandum respecting the Real Property and Conveyancing Bill (The Lord Chancellor).